Ox-yoke



' w. BURNHAM.

' Ox-Yoke.

Patehted May. 24, [1859.

mm STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WASHINGTON BURNHAM, OF ESSEX, MASSACHUSETTS.

OX-YOKE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 24,096, dated May 24, 1859'.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it'known that I, WASHINGTON BURN- HAM, of Essex, in the county ofEssex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in OX-Yokes; and I do hereby declare that the same is fullydescribed and represented in the following specification and theaccompanying drawin s, of WlllCh Figure 1, is a front view Fig. 2, alongitudinal section, and Fig. 3, a transverse section of an OX yokecontaining my improvement.

Such invention is intended to equalize the pressure on the necks of theoxen or draft animals. It is well known, that when the pole ring is inthe middle of the yoke and one OX is stronger or exerts the greaterforward pressure on the yoke, the Weaker 0x, or both, will suffer inconsequence of the yoke being bent out of square with the pole. I amaware that remedies for such have been applied to yokes but not in themode which constitutes my invention or improvement and which is simpleand effective.

In carrying out the said invention, I employ what may be termed a staplerack A, which consists of a strong metallic staple formed with astraight bar a, uniting its legs 6, b. This bar a, is constructed with aseries of semicircular notches c, c, 0, formed on its lower or outeredge. The staple so made is let into the yoke, B, in manner as shown inFig. 2, and may be fastened therein either by rivets or by screws andnuts at the upper ends of its legs.

The pole ring C, is suspended from a block or carrier, D, through whichthe rack passes such carrier or slider bein furnished with a hole It,for the reception of a pin 2'. The hole is so formed and arranged withrespect to the notches of the rack as to enable a person at one and thesame time to insert the pin in it and any one of the notches in line ofwhich the hole may be placed. Under such circumstances, the pin willhold the ring carrier in position 1n the staple rack and the positionmay be varied either to the right or left of the center of the rack ascircumstances may require, in order to prevent the stronger ox fromovercoming the power of the weaker to maintain the yoke square with thepole.

I am perfectly aware of the invention of Joseph H. Riggs, as patentedAugust 3rd, 1838. My invention although having the same object differsmaterially from his, as I do not employ two racks, arranged andoperating like his, nor am I obliged to turn any screw and move downwardany rack or part of my invention to accomplish the movement of the polering as is the case with his. My invention not only operates to muchbetter advantage, but is much simpler than that of the said Riggs.

It is not my intention to claim the principle of having the pole rinadjustable With reference to either end of the yoke, but to confine myclaim simply to an improved mode of accomplishing such.

Therefore, I claim The mode of applying the pole ring to the yoke, viz,by means of the staple rack, and the ring carrier, made so as to becapable of sliding on the rack and with a pin passage arranged withrespect to the notches of the staple rack substantially in manner asdescribed, the whole being for the purpose eX- plained.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature.

WASHINGTON B URNHAM.

I Vitnesses:

DAVID CHoA'rE, V. CHoATE.

